Man sentenced for Kroger robbery

A Greenfield man who admitted to pushing a cart full of merchandise out of the Kroger store on Clinton Avenue in Washington Court House without paying was sentenced Monday in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas.

It all began June 28 when Jessica R. Brust, 34, and Brian L. Duncan, 31, left the Kroger store with $459.85 in merchandise, including $80 in lithium batteries, the movie “Depraved,” a measuring cup, hair trimmers, a parfait, an oscillating fan, a box of tissues and two cantaloupes, according to court records.

Brust swung her purse at the Kroger loss prevention officer who tried to stop her as she and Duncan fled from the store. Shortly after leaving Kroger the couple was arrested when a Washington Court House police officer made a traffic stop. The officer reported there were empty boxes of pseudoephedrine and lithium batteries, among other items in the vehicle, that appeared to be being used for manufacturing methamphetamine. Brust plead guilty to the robbery charge and was sentenced in October to nine months in prison for the Kroger robbery.

Duncan plead guilty to the robbery as well, and appeared Monday for sentencing. Duncan’s attorney, Thomas Arrington, said a pre-sentence investigation had been ordered and community control was being recommended in the sentence. Arrington said Duncan and the co-defendant, Brust, have several minor children together.

“He needs to be able to care for his children,” said Arrington, noting that Duncan has spent some time in the Fayette County Jail for the robbery.

Steven Beathard, Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge, suspended a 36-month prison sentence for Duncan, placed him on five years of community control, and ordered him to attend 180 days in the SEPTA program.

“If you want to stay out of prison, go to this program,” said Beathard.